Oh my godalmighty I saw Kisschasy Gyroscope and The Living End last night. (please excuse my language) Fucking Awesome! It was my birthday present (which was on the 11th, yep, I'm now 19) from Gerard and Julie and I went with Gerard right beside the mosh pit but on one step up so I could see the stage the whole time and still dance. Just 15 feet away from the stage! Fantastic! (Starts singing Prisoner of Society and air guitaring Second Solution at the same time) Whoever said Double Bass wasn't for rock bands? Best part of the entire night was when Scott with his massive red double bass, leant it on its side and was braced against it playing and Chris (the guitarist) was playing his guitar with one foot in the incut and the other on the neck jamming on his guitar. Standing onn top of it! So absolutely fucking cool!
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth can be an act of revolution. – George Orwell, featured on Wake Up
Adriana flew around the room in Erik's arms, his eyes moved across the floor and then returned down to hers. She was gazing at him as though he was the only person left in the world and her hand shifted out from the light finger grip they shared to twist and tangle properly with his.
"What are you doing?" His eyes flickered down hers, "And why are you staring at me like that?"
Adriana spun out under his long arm, stretching out to get her wings around and under, "Just realising how lucky I am to have you," she said.
Erik was silent. "Lucky," he said, "To have me?" he looked at her suspiciously, "Have you been drinking?"
"Erik, why are you mocking me?"
"Have you?"
"Yes! One glass! I'm Aussie! It's a national pastime! And thankyou!"
"For what?"
"For ruining the one romantic attempt I make in God knows how long by accusing me of being intoxicated."
"You ruined my evening flaunting an Opera House before me that I can never possibly hope to see in a place I never intend to visit and expect me to be content with the one I already have."
Adriana quite deliberately pressed her heeled shoe into Erik's foot. "What do you mean we're never going home?" she demanded, "I want to!"
"Then behave yourself."
I am…behaving myself…a bit."
"Stop lying."
"About behaving myself? Cant, you'll hurt me. About being lucky to have you? Well that depends on your viewpoint. You probably consider me a somewhat useful if over-the-top loudmouth creature, obviously working under some kind of higher authority because who would possibly want to spend time or any other things,"
Erik blushed under his mask.
"…with you. I see myself as an incredibly lucky and probably highly envied female who somewhere in her twisted little mind, managed to concentrate on something long enough to realise I wanted you, Erik. You above any other I have ever known. And what's more, I like being yours.
Erik was silent a moment, then drawing her closer, rested his chin on her head and cradled her in his arms. In truth he was a little surprised at her deadpan analysis of herself. (Although) he reminded himself, (He had known her long enough to realise he shouldn't be shocked by anything anymore.) The young woman in his arms had a talent for picking up on things most people either missed or wouldn't admit. But a brief flare of warmth somewhere in his chest reminded him how impossibly good it was to hear those words spoken to him. And by a woman he (almost) trusted.
Eventually pressing his lips to her temple he murmured into her hair, "Thankyou, Adriana,"
"You're welcome, Erik."
"You wanted me," he mused, "it still feels inconceivable, if hardly the most romantic declaration I've ever heard."
"Hey I tried romance earlier," she pointed out, "You thought I was drunk."
"Why so I did," he murmured, giving a short, beautiful laugh. Adriana grinned and put her head on his shoulder, curling her other hand into his black collar.
"Your voice is pretty when you laugh," she noted.
"Thankyou," Erik replied modestly, "You've made any number of similar comments on it in the past."
"Well I'll say it again, you have a lovely voice."
Masks and dancers whirled about as Adriana and Erik remained locked in their intimate circle of dance.
"I still cant believe that you managed to pull this off," Erik said eventually, "What did you spike the drinks with to make them all this lucid?"
"Nothing!" she protested lightly, "Their French, they can't handle strong liquor."
There was a strong tone of amusement in Erik's voice, "I'll take your word for it."
"Oh goodie. And what pray tell would you have done? Come thundering down from the ceiling to Bach's Toccata?"
"I happen to like that piece of music."
"I know you do. You remind me of Dracula when you play it."
Thanks to the Authoress, Erik had read the book. "I will never understand your fascination with that character."
Adriana shrugged, "Desensitised and commercialised I guess. The black cape fangs stereotype has been thrown at me since I was born. You were the lucky one, getting to read it expectation free."
"I suppose. I honestly would have enjoyed a Bel Canto style entrance, truth be told."
"When the lights went out the accompanist kissed her" Adriana quoted, "Does this mean you're going to kiss me?"
Erik looked at her gravely, then lowered his head and brushed his lips gently over hers.
"Happy?" he asked.
Adriana smiled, "Now I am."
Of course right after that moment, something had to happen to keep the story going, and so naturally, it did.
Across the room, Erik spied a familiar face. "What is that fool doing here?" he hissed.
"Who?" Adriana turned her head and looked, "Who's here?"
"Nadir. That's Darvon over there. That inconsiderate imbecile! Now he's going to make life miserable for us both."
"Well hang on, if Darvon works for Nadir, what is he doing bowing and scraping to that other guy over there?"
Erik craned his head then froze, his arms tightening around Adriana to the point of rib breakage.
"Ow!" she hissed, "Erik let go! Who is it?"
"It seems," Erik's voice had taken on a peculiar hard edged tone, "That the esteemed Vazhar Ondin has paid a visit to my humble home."
The name was familiar, Adriana wracked her brain for a moment, trying to remember where she had heard it. "Vazhar…isn't he the one Nadir was talking about? The one who hated travel?"
"It's truly rude for a host not to welcome his guests into his home," Erik was saying, he looked down at her, head tilted to one side, "Don't you think?"
"Erik you're scaring me." Adriana said flatly, "What's going on?"
"You don't understand," his voice was urgent, "This man was the khanum's favourite torturous noble before I arrived in Persia. There were any number of times he tried to have me assassinated, several times I only just escaped to have another half a dozen men waiting for me at my chambers, knives at the ready, and was forced to run again."
"And so now is the perfect time to extract your revenge? Erik you're already accused of being a mass murderer, don't actually start it again."
Erik ignored her, "Come on." He grasped her roughly and propelled them across the floor in a fast waltz, halting behind a marble column to listen to the heavy Punjabi dialect passing between the two men. (translated for your convinience)
"Your clothes have been taken care of," Darvon was saying, "And the footman who saw you has been silenced."
"Good." The clipped tones of Ondin's voice caused Erik to twitch violently and his fingers ground into Adriana's arm.
"Have you discovered the way down to that beasts lair yet?"
Darvon bowed apologetically, "I have not my master," he practically begged, "Darius did not enter the bowels of this Opera House and that bumbling idiot whom I must pretend to serve is trapped by some kind of foolish desire to keep his friendship with the madman whom you are hunting."
Adriana raised an eyebrow, Darvon was in Ondin's pay? She was suddenly very much reminded that for some reason, barring Tolkein, every fantasy book she owned had a web of politics she loved to play in. She actually felt quite Aly-ish
"You fool!" Vazhar's voice cut in on her private musings. "Your task was not so very difficult. Find me the way to the Phantom's lair and get me that whore he calls his Wraith and you would be well rewarded! My suggestion to you is not to displease me or else you will be the one joining those snipes in the gutter!"
Everything clicked into place in Adriana's mind. "Oh shit." She murmured.
"Now if you cannot gain me the information I need, I will have to search for it myself!" Vazhar snapped. "Stay here and watch for them both, I am going to the Persian to do what you could not." The short man turned to stride away, fingers straightening his gold brocade waistcoat.
"Yes master, forgive me master I beg you…" Darvon blubbered. Vazhar turned back, Adriana glimpsed a flash of silver and there was a dull thump as Darvon's lifeless body hit the floor.
"I did warn you not to fail me." Vazhar said almost conversationally as he wiped the blade clean on a ream of silk. Then he turned towards the door and began to walk out..
The click had also hit Erik. With an almost loving sigh his fingers dipped into his pocket and wrapped around a length of catgut, caressing it fondly as he looked down at Darvon. Adriana saw the movement, "Erik you didn't!" she hissed. "No one will believe you! You'll get caught!" He ignored her again.
(That is getting to be a very bad habit my love) she thought irritated. (Oh god, distraction, what the hell? Aha!)
Adriana gulped a breath of air and ducked across the room to a gold mask, "Odile!" she grabbed the diva's arm, "It's Adriana, just trust me, pretend to faint"
"What?" startled, Odile's head whipped around, "Adriana!"
"Shh! Faint damn you!" Adriana hissed, Odile's eyes looked puzzled, "But I don't feel ill?" she protested, "Then fake it!" the vehement reply came back, Adriana kicked the shocked soprano in the ankle and Odile went white in pain, "You're a diva for Christ's sake, cause a goddamn scene if you want to live to see tomorrow!"
The threat worked, with a dramatic sigh, Odile rolled her black eyes back into her head and she folded gracefully to the floor, skirts billowing around her elegant frame.
"Oh my! She's fainted!" Adriana threw her voice across the crowd, people's heads turned away and their necks craned to see the cause of the fuss.
Vazhar took the opportunity to duck away from Erik and out the door, Darvon at his heels. Erik froze torn by indecision, then gave chase as Adriana organised the removal of Odile from the hall and to a private office.
A minute or two later, another person joined the race, dressed in a black gown and with scarlet wings sweeping the night air behind her.